Zias gain tie with Midwestern State

Eastern New Mexico University’s women ended a five-match losing streak against Midwestern State on Sunday, battling the Mustangs to a 1-1 Lone Star Conference tie at the ENMU pitch.

In the first game of the doubleheader, Newman scored the deciding goal on a penalty kick with just under four minutes left and the Jets claimed a 2-1 non-league victory over the Greyhounds.

Junior midfielder Kimberly Luna put the Zias (4-3-2, 2-1-2 LSC) in front in the 51st minute, bending a shot from the right wing past MSU goalkeeper Mallory Whitworth and into the upper left corner of the net for her second goal of the season.

It was the Zias’ first lead over MSU since 2007.

The Mustangs (3-2-2, 1-2-1), coming off a 2-1, double-overtime loss on Friday at West Texas A&M, got the equalizer about 12 1/2 minutes later when senior forward Lindsay Pritchard converted a through ball past Zias senior goalkeeper Sierra Cardenas.

Cardenas made nine saves for ENMU, which was outshot 25-9 overall and 10-1 in shots on goal.

The Zias’ lone victory over Midwestern State in nine all-time meetings was a 2005 overtime match in Portales.

In the men’s clash, both teams scored early — sophomore midfielder Andy Wilkinson with his third goal of the season for the Hounds (4-2-2) in the fifth minute and Amadau Doumbia for the Jets (3-5) about two minutes later — and the physical match stayed 1-1 until ENMU freshman goalkeeper Matt Malak was given a red card following a scramble in the box with 3:56 to go.

Facing ENMU backup keeper Peter Horak, Newman’s Chris Vaughn converted the penalty kick, and the Jets held on the for win.

The Hounds had the better of the match for the most part, outshooting the Wichita, Kan.-based Jets 21-12 overall and earning seven corners to two for Newman. In addition to the red card on Malak, each side received three yellow cards.